By Ed Shannon, staff writer

Accolades have been coming Theresa Jackson&8217;s way quite a bit lately.

She has been cited for the third time within a few months for her volunteering activities.

&8220;This has been quite a year for honors,&8221; Jackson said.

The latest award is the Alliance Pipeline Community Hero for Minnesota, which was presented to her at Senior Resources in Albert Lea on Friday.

The award was created by the Alliance firm to recognize an outstanding individual in Canadian provinces and states in which the firm&8217;s pipeline is located. In the United States the Community Hero award is presented to just one person each year in each of the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois who has made substantial contributions through volunteerism and charity efforts to a community.

Each Hero selected is presented with a check for $2,500 to be donated to an organization they choose.

Jackson selected Senior Resources to be the recipient of the check from the Community Investment Fund of Alliance Pipeline.

&8220;This way, we not only give to a charity but also give a pat on the back to significant people for their community service work,&8221; is how Sally Fossum, a spokeswoman for Alliance Pipeline, describes the purpose for the Hero award.

Jackson was recently honored by St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home as its volunteer in 2006.

The third citation for this very active person came when she was one of seven parishioners of St. Theodore Catholic Church to be presented a medal by Bishop Bernard Harrington of the Diocese of Winona a few months ago.

Jackson grew up on a farm near Geneva and graduated from Naeve Hospital School of

Nursing in 1946.

She worked as a nurse at the hospital and for several doctors until her retirement in July 1989. During those 43 years as a registered nurse, 24 were spent working with Dr. Theodore Gill.

In 2004, Jackson and Louise Yost were recognized as the Outstanding Seniors of Freeborn County. They were honored that year at the Freeborn County Fair and again at the Minnesota

State Fair.

Of her volunteering and trying to make life better for others in the community, Jackson said at that time, &8220;I felt I wanted to return some of the kindnesses I have received.&8221;

During her 60 years of volunteering, Jackson has been involved with many local activities and organizations. Through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, she served for several years on the Senior Resources board of directors and has been a peer counselor .

She helps with parties and shopping, plus being as listening visitor, for residents at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home. Jackson also facilitates a grief support group, helping people deal with grief and loss issues.

She is an active member of Naeve Alumni and Nurses. In the past Jackson has sold daffodils for the American Cancer Society and rang bells for the Salvation Army fund raising drive during the Christmas season.

She is a member of the Caregiver Outreach Program, a group she explains &8220;helps people to stay in their homes.&8221;

One of her most unusual activities as a volunteer comes when she dresses up like a bag lady to tell school children about the trials of being homeless.

Jackson says she&8217;s been a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church for 63 years. She has been a member of the choir since 1987, an eucharistic minister since 1991, and a trustee from 1992-98. Jackson is active in the ministry of care, making weekly visits to bring communion and prayer to the homebound, nursing home, and hospitalized parish members. She also served on the parish council and is a volunteer at St. Theodore Catholic School.

I feel so blessed to be able to do all those things and just help others,&8221; Jackson declared.